P.O. BOX 23057Belleville, IL 62223-0057(618) 235-3712

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Non-Profit Org.U.S. Postage

PAIDBelleville, IL

Permit No. 646

Wagging Tailsspring 2013

President:Susan Skinner

Vice President:Bob Keefe

Secretary:Shelly Korves

Directors:Noelle Miles, D.V.M.

Michelle Meehan-SchraderKelli RauckmanKathy Simmons

Karen StroboTricia Tialdo

David PadgettMickie Mahoney

Honorary Board Member:Carol Lesko,Past President

Business Manager:Jo Ann Buettner

Animal Care Coordinator:Betty Tomlin

Co-Managers:Beverly Mikel

Julie Grady

Website:www.bahspets.com

www.bellevilleareahumanesociety.com

We have long dreamed about a new and updated website and now it is a reality. Thanks to Jonathan Gettys of Novatec, we have launched our new website. After several complications and countless hours donated by Jon, we are finally off and running. We are so excited and couldn’t be more thrilled. While there will always be things we want to update and change, this new website is a big step for us.

Check us out at bellevilleareahumanesociety.com or bahspets.com and you will see some really cool features to help you find just the right pet. This new system is tied into our database at the shelter so it will always be up to date as far as animals who are available for adoption. We will also have upcoming events and pictures from past events. Jon is even working on a wishlist feature where folks can enter in specific info about the type of animal they are looking for. As soon as we enter it in the shelter system, you will receive an automated email the next morning. Our objective with the new website is to essentially have our animals available to potential adopters 24/7. We want to find them ALL a home as quickly as possible.

Like us on facebook. Recently our facebook page has taken on a whole new life. Watch here for daily shelter news, animal updates and stories, adoption successes, and special events.

THANK YOU Jon Gettys for your dedication to making this dream a reality. Many animals have been and will continue to be saved because of the effort that has been put into these projects.

bahspets.com or bellevilleareahumanesociety.com

Kwik Stop

Pinesol

Rubbermaid

Spay-ghetti DinnerWed, April 10 from 4 to 8 pm • Swansea Improvement Association

301 Service St. • Swansea, IL

Join the BAHS and Four Hearts Foundation to raise needed funds for low-cost spay/ neuters. Why cook when you can dine with us and help such a worthy cause. Adults are $8, children 3-12 are $4 and under 3 eat free. Dinner includes spaghetti with meat sauce or marinara sauce, salad and bread. We will also have a bake sale, basket raffle and 50/50.

Splash for RescuesDive In and Join Us for Fun! Fun! Fun!

Camp Bow Wow has signed on again to sponsor the Gateway Dock Dogs to benefit the BAHS. The second annual Splash for Rescues will take place on June 14-15-16, 2013. We’ve made a location change this year to Eckert’s Or-chards located at 951 S. Greenmount Road in Belleville to give us better accommodations as far as food, drinks and shade are concerned.

For those who attended last year, I know you’ll be back. If you missed out last year, be sure to join us. This is one of the best events we have all year. There is no admittance charge for this fun, family-friendly event.

While the dock dogs will be competing in a 50’ pool for national diving honors all weekend, the vendor fair and canine carnival will only be held from 11a.m. to 3p.m. on Saturday, June 15. Join us for some interactive canine and kids games, fetching contest, dog dress up contest, agility and obedience demonstrations and a dog/owner look-a-like contest. Saturday from noon to 3p.m., we will also feature adoptable dogs from multiple organizations.

For the really passionate dog lover, we are looking for groups or families who would be willing to help with the booths for the Canine Carnival area. This is a great opportunity for scout groups or even as a family project. If you’d like to be a part of helping with the planning of this event, come to an organizational meeting on Monday, March 25 at the shelter, 1301 South 11th St in Belleville at 6 pm. If you have questions, call Shelly Korves at 618-410-6376.

Share the Love -Become a Foster Parent

By:Shelly KorvesThe BAHS is in desperate need of fosters. We are especially looking for people who can help with puppies. It is very helpful to get them into foster when they first arrive. This allows us to keep them healthy while they receive their booster shots. Of course, we are also looking for those who would be willing to bottle feed kittens. No experience is necessary as we will teach everything you need to know. We also provide all of the necessary supplies they require. Of course, we also have adult dogs and cats who need fostering.

If you think you have what it takes or you are willing to learn, please join us for an open house/ informational foster meeting. We will provide you with all of the info you need and also be there to answer all of you questions. Some of our current and successful fosters will also be there to lend support and help you get started.

This can be a very rewarding experience for your whole family. What a great way to share the love and give back to our animal community. Join us on Monday, Feb. 18 from 4p.m to 7p.m. for our Foster Parent Awareness Meeting. If you can’t make this meeting, call the shelter and we will arrange a time to meet with you and answer any questions you may have.

Foster Brett Korves with Roxy

manager, Beverly at 618-235-3712.

By Michelle Meehan Schrader

It wasn’t Rigley’s fault the new baby had dog allergies. But six years into his forever home, the loveable lug of a Lab mix found himself back at the shelter. He also found himself walking on three legs, no small feat for a 50 pound dog.

“The shelter volunteers were walking him down the road like they usually do, nothing stressful,” BAHS manager Beverly Mikel, recalled “All of a sudden, they heard him yelp. They brought him back to the shelter and we found out right away he had torn his left, back ACL.”

Rigley would require expensive surgery and rehab. Fortunately for him, what BAHS lacked in medical funds, they made up for in devoted staff members. Rigley would get his surgery – even if it took a village to raise the money.

“Everyone rallied around him,” Mikel recalled. “It just kind of snowballed and took on a life of its own. The staff got involved, then the volunteers and the public. Even the local newspaper wrote a story. We held bake sales for him. We made money from a shot clinic. A hypnotist did a show. There was a yard sale.

“It just happened before we knew it. People heard the story and they asked, “How can we help?”

Four Paws Animal Hospital in O’Fallon performed Rigley’s surgery at a discount. Afterward, BAHS board member Mickie Mahoney brought him home to foster.

“I saw him through rehab and water therapy, vet visits and physical therapy, all that,” Mahoney recalled. “He was just an excellent boy through it all -- the star pupil in his water therapy class. He had one of the sweetest personalities of any dog I’ve ever fostered.”

When Rigley was ready for exercise, BAHS staff member Melissa Janes began showing up at Mahoney’s home to take him for walks. It took several months to find Rigley the right home but Patrick and Whitney Shannon of St. Louis fit the bill.

“He is just a perfect fit for our family,” Patrick Shannon said, proudly. “Me, my wife, our 1-year-old son Liam, we just love him. Being busy with our little guy, we wanted an older dog that was calm and had all the puppy stuff out of the way. He just molded into our family like he’s always been here.

“He’s loving. He’s protective when he needs to be. He’s gentle with Liam. He has this great bark. Since my wife stays home with the baby, he’s a real comfort to her.”

Not only that. But he’s a celebrity.

“We didn’t realize how famous he was when we adopted him,” Shannon said and laughed. “We knew they raised money for his surgery and the shelter staff really loved him. But when my great aunt found out we adopted him, she said, “You adopted Rigley? THE Rigley?” She said she read an article about him and cut it out and kept it on her fridge. We now have the article on our fridge, too.”

Rigley’s StoryBAHS gets boost from schools with “Pennies for Pets” project

By Kathy Simmons

Lola, the Chihuahua – clad in her pink tutu - bounded into St. Teresa School, ready for her close-up.

To the delight of hundreds of students at the school, Lola pranced around the room and barked at many of the larger dogs she brought along with her from the Belleville Area Humane Society.

Lola and her canine pals were at the school for “Pennies for Pets” (PFP) - the program which raises money for the shelter and educates students on caring for animals.

Many area schools have jumped on the “Pennies for Pets” bandwagon, getting visits from the PFP team, their dogs and their mascot, Barkus, to teach the kids about animal care and the inner workings of the Belleville Area Humane Society.

BAHS board member, Karen Strobo, a retired teacher, developed the program. Strobo thought it would be a great way for kids to learn about caring for animals –and a good way to help raise money for the shelter.

The students collect spare change for two weeks and the winning class earns a pizza party.

“The kids have loved being involved and getting to help the animals,” says Strobo. “The money raised has helped us feed hundreds of animals and has made a real difference to the Belleville Area Humane Society. We’re so grateful for their participation.”While many schools collect spare change, some are having supply drives – collecting dog and cat food and other supplies from the shelter’s wish list.

Other schools participating in “Pennies for Pets’ this year include Queen of Peace, Millstadt Consolidated, Roosevelt School, Freeburg Primary, Bluffview in Dupo, Ellis School, Blessed Sacrament and Signal Hill School.

“These kids and these schools are making all the difference to the animals at BAHS. We can’t thank them enough,” said Strobo. If your school or group would like to participate in “Pennies for Pets” please email the shelter at bahsmail@sbcglobal.net.

Students from Queen of Peace school Students from St. Teresa school

Baybee Charms DukeKiara Rosie Trudy

Rigley with Patrick and Whitney Shannon

Share the LoveUpcoming Events:

The BAHS has a busy year, please plan to attend one or many of our upcoming events. We are always looking for fundraising or just fun events for our organization. See you soon, we hope.

March 16, Sat St. Pat Parade Downtown Belleville 11a.m.

March 17, Sun Petsmart Adoptions Belleville Crossing 11a.m.-2p.m.

March 22, Fri Hoops for Hounds PaPa Vitos Belleville 6 p.m.

April 10, Wed Spay-ghetti Dinner Swansea Improvement Hall 4p.m.-8p.m.

April 20, Sat Petsmart Adoptions Belleville Crossing 11a.m.-2p.m.

May 4, Sat Pros for Pets Rural King Swansea 11a.m.-3p.m.

May 18, Sat Petsmart Adoptions Belleville Crossing 11a.m.-2p.m.

June 14-16 Splash for Rescues Eckerts Orchard, Belleville

Sept 12, Thurs Wine for Whiskers Weingarten Belleville

Oct 6, Sun Race for Rescues 5K Belleville West HS 9 a.m.

Executive Living for the Kitties at BAHS A big thank you to Junior Service Club of St. Clair County for our 2012 grant. Because of your generosity, we were able to purchase two cat townhouses. These are now in service in our lobby and the lucky cats living in them couldn’t be happier. They really showcase the cats as well as providing them with 28 square feet of living space to climb and exercise in. They also provide an air ventilation system to keep the air moving freely while helping to eliminate the litterbox odor.

A big thank you also goes to David Padgett and Padgett Building and Remodeling for their help in assembling the townhouses. David and his crew spent an entire day assembling these for our cat residents and we know they are meowing “Thank You” every day.

Hopefully these will also boost adoptions. Our dream is to add more as time goes on. Stop in and view or visit with the cats. We know you will be impressed.

Ho! Ho! Ho! Thank you!Another Christmas season has come and gone. The BAHS took Santa photos at Petsmart in Belleville Crossing and Tribout’s on South Illinois St this year allowing more than 200 dogs and a few cats to visit Santa and let him know what they were hoping to get under the tree. This event provides many pet owners with a fond photo memory of their pet and Santa. Thank you to all of our supporters and volunteers, especially Rebecca Morris of Three Dog Photography for your help with this project. Another big thanks to Santa Bob and Santa David. It takes a special person with lots of love and patience to be a Santa who poses with pets.

This is one of our favorite events because we get to see many of our former furbabies with their new families. It is also fun to see how they react to Santa. If you’ve never done this, mark your calendar and join us next Christmas.

THE CONTINUING SAGA OF SAM AND BROWNIETHE FINAL CHAPTER

Those of you reading this probably already know the Sam and Brownie story – these are the “candy corn kids.” They came to the shelter in April of 2012 and after a rocky start, came to be the darlings of the staff. However, after several months living here and one unsuccessful attempt at their being fostered, their dream for a permanent home was waning. We always keep our fingers crossed for our special doggies and kitties, hoping one day the right person will come in and realize what treasures these particular pets are. And so on January 24, 2013, exactly three months from being returned by the first foster, in came one of our best fosters, Peggy S. She walked up to the desk and said “I want Sammie and Brownie.” Not sure what she meant exactly, I asked “WHAT DO YOU MEAN EXACTLY?” Peggy is currently fostering three of our cats but felt the need in her heart to have a dog in her house. Knowing the story of Sam and Brown-ing and realizing what a great duo they are, she wanted them to come home with her. So a few days later, they went to live with Peggy and her band of kitties. I have visited them several times, and know that they are with the right person. Peggy will be adopting them shortly so they will officially become a part of her family. Although myself and the rest of the staff will miss them, their happy ending is all that counts for these two amazing dogs. Working at the shelter, the staff loves and cares for all of our residents. But every once in awhile, a particular one will really get in your heart. For me, that “one” turned out to be these two. I will never forget them. Perhaps one of you reading this will come and find the right one for you. Thank you, Belleville, for your continued support for our shelter.

Beverly Mikel

RETURN THE LOVENew adopter Peggy with Sam and Brownie